The following names were submitted by nomination petition for election to the Board of Governors. The Board of Governors is the State Bar's policymaking body. Governors serve two-year terms.
Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 will elect governors in 2023. District 2 (Milwaukee) elects seven; District 9 (Dane) elects three; and all other districts elect one.
All State Bar elections (including for State Bar divisions and sections) will be held via an electronic ballot in 2023. Ballots are emailed by the second Friday in April. The election opens on Thursday, April 13, 2023, and closes at noon Central time on April 28, 2023.
Persons elected will take office July 1, 2023.
District Map |
View Officer Candidates
District 1 (one vacancy)
District 2 (seven vacancies)
Karen M. Bauer, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee Inc., Milwaukee, U.W. 2009
Daniel J. Blinka, Godfrey & Kahn SC, Milwaukee, U.W. 2009
Elisabeth Townsend Bridge, Amundsen Davis LLC, Milwaukee, University of Nebraska 1981
Basil J. Buchko, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc., Milwaukee, Notre Dame 1999
Monica L. Cail, Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc., Milwaukee, Marquette 2015
James E. Goldschmidt, Quarles & Brady LLP, Milwaukee, Harvard 2012
Jennifer L. Johnson, Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc., Milwaukee, Indiana University 2014
Russell J. Karnes, Gimbel Reilly Guerin & Brown LLP, Milwaukee, Marquette 2010
Thomas J. Pienkos, Amundsen Davis LLC, Milwaukee, U.W. 1999
Mary L. Schanning, Milwaukee World Festival Inc., Milwaukee, William & Mary 1997
Clyde Tinnen, Foley & Lardner LLP, Milwaukee, Columbia University 2006
District 3 (one vacancy)
District 5 (one vacancy)
District 6 (one vacancy)
District 7 (one vacancy)
District 9 (three vacancies)
Stacy A. Alexejun, Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison, Marquette 2009
Alison E. Helland, Madison Community Foundation, Madison, University of Iowa 2005
Jessica J. Shrestha, Fredrikson & Byron PA, Madison, U.W. 2009
Annabelle K. Vang, Kowalski Wilson & Vang LLC, Madison, Marquette 2014
District 11 (one vacancy)
District 13 (one vacancy)
Tatiana Shirasaki, Dodge County Corporation Counsel, Juneau, Toledo Brazil 1998, U.W. 2014
District 15 (one vacancy)
Elizabeth Stinebaugh, Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc., Racine, University of the District of Columbia 2013
District 1
Haley J. Johnson of Elkhorn. U.W. Law School, J.D. 2010. University of Wyoming, B.A. 2007. Assistant Corporation Counsel for Walworth County handling child welfare cases, mental commitments, zoning matters, and social media law. Former assistant district attorney for over 10 years. Former president of the Walworth County Bar Association. Member State Bar of Wisconsin and Walworth County Bar Association. Executive Board Member for Tree House Child and Family Center. Most importantly, wife and mother of two boys.
District 2
Karen M. Bauer of Milwaukee. Ms. Bauer is a managing attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee. She represents low-income people in bankruptcy and consumer protection cases, and advocates for student loan debtors, despite having her own loans forgiven in 2020 via Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Bar Activities: Board of Governors (2017-20), YLD Board (2007-2013), Public Interest Law Section Board (Chair 2014-16) (Member 2009-16), New Lawyers Challenges Committee, Greater Wisconsin Committee, WisLAP Committee.
Education: J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School (2009). B.A. University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (2004). A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies Milwaukee Area Technical College (1997).
Speaker: numerous CLE seminars given including those sponsored by State Bar, regarding student loan debt, consumer law and bankruptcy. Recognitions: WisLAP Volunteer of the Year (2016), SBW Outstanding Young Lawyer (2014), Fellow - Wisconsin Law Foundation, Fellow – American Bar Foundation, Pro Bono Honor Roll.
Memberships: State Bar of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Bar Association, Association for Women Lawyers, National Association of Consumer Advocates.
Volunteer: Girls Scouts (Troop Leader), MATC Fast Fund (Board Member), Wisconsin Free Legal Answers, WisLAP (Peer Assistant and Monitor), Governor’s Task Force on Student Loan Debt (Appointed Member 2020).
Personal: Mom to Cecilia (age 10), rabid concert-goer, avid camper, teaching myself Spanish.
Daniel J. Blinka of Milwaukee. U.W. Law School, J.D. 2009. Godfrey & Kahn S.C., Milwaukee. I have been an attorney at Godfrey & Kahn for nearly 14 years. For the most part, I represent companies or individuals in civil litigation matters, primarily cases that arise from the sale of businesses, fraud, or breaches of fiduciary duties. I also regularly represent clients under investigation by the government. I otherwise try to have one pro-bono case at any given time and to serve my local and state bar. I am a past member of the Board of Governors (two terms), and I look forward to once again serving the State Bar and, therefore, my fellow Wisconsin-lawyers as a member of the Board.
Elisabeth Townsend Bridge of Milwaukee. University of Nebraska, 1981 J.D. Undergraduate Degree, BA, Purdue University, 1978. Partner, SmithAmundsen LLC since 2016. Member, State Bar of Wisconsin; Current BOG Member and Wisconsin State Bar ABA Delegate; Former Chair and Current Committee Member, Local Bar Relations Committee, State Bar of Wisconsin; Former Chair and Board Member, Intellectual Property Practice Section Board, State Bar of Wisconsin; Former Chair and Current Board Member, International Practice Section Board, State Bar of Wisconsin; Former Chair and Current Member, Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association; Former Commodore and Current Board Member, North Lake Yacht Club Board; Current Board Member, Christ Church Episcopal Whitefish Bay Endowment Board; Honorary Consul for Belguim in Wisconsin.
Elisabeth Townsend Bridge Campaign Statement
To the Members of District 2, State Bar of Wisconsin:
I moved to Wisconsin in 1981 after accepting a job offer with a law firm in Milwaukee. I have now practiced law for over 40 years in the State of Wisconsin, always in private practice, and have witnessed the many changes and challenges to our profession over those years.
When I graduated from law school, only 15% of my graduating class were women and we had no law students of color. I was one of the first female attorneys at the corporate practice firm I joined after graduating, as well as the first woman attorney to have a baby before maternity leave policies for attorneys were implemented at that firm. Being an intellectual property attorney, I also attended engineering school where I was often the only woman or among very few women in each of my classes. These experiences have helped me understand and emphasize with others who are a minority in a professional setting and perhaps don’t have the benefit of mentors to help guide them through their professional growth and development.
It is critically important to our profession to adequately support our members by providing mentoring programs to build gender and racial equity and equal opportunity in our profession. It is also important to address the needs both of our highly specialized in-city Bar members and the needs of practitioners in our rural communities, who often are necessarily generalists to adequately serve their communities and build a practice. Supporting our State Bar and Local Bar Association mentorship programs can also help new attorneys throughout Wisconsin during these challenging times, since many of these new graduates, working remotely, have not reaped the benefits of in-office and communitywide networking and CLE opportunities available in pre-pandemic times. Such personal networking experiences are crucial in an attorney’s development as a lawyer and as a community leader.
If I have the privilege to be reelected to the Wisconsin State Bar Board of Governors, I intend to address these issues, among others, so that all of our members are better equipped to build their practices and better serve the citizens of this great state.
Basil J. Buchko of Milwaukee. University of Notre Dame, J.D., 1999, University of Wisconsin, MBA, 2021. V.P., General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc. Member State Bar of Wisconsin, 1999, State Bar of Michigan, 2000. Chairman of the Board, Freedom Fighters, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) organization), Director, CORE Treatment Services, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) organization). Member Bar Board of Governors, member of Strategic Planning Committee. Loves organizational governance and long strategy planning sessions on the beach.
Monica L. Cail of Saint Francis. Marquette University, J.D., 2015. Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc., Milwaukee. Member State Bar of Wisconsin, National Legal Aid and Defender Association. Board President: ArtWorks for Milwaukee.
Monica L. Cail Campaign Statement
Hi, I’m Monica Cail, an attorney who lives and works in Milwaukee County. I am running to represent District 2 on the Board of Governors (BOG). Each of us has a role to play in making our profession one we can be proud of, and serving my fellow state bar members on the BOG is an exciting opportunity for me to do just that.
I am Legal Action of Wisconsin’s (LAW) Director of Racial Justice Litigation and Advocacy. In this role I plan and implement our firm’s strategy to deliver civil legal services using a racial equity lens. It is both an incredible privilege and a monumental responsibility to be entrusted with this work, and I take it very seriously. However, there is a great deal of joy and inspiration to be found amid the hard work and I focus on that to keep me going. Prior to stepping into my current role, I practiced family law as a staff attorney at LAW. In that position, I advocated for indigent domestic violence survivors in matters including divorce, child custody, and placement.
My service to my firm is not limited to the work described above. I was selected as a 2018 Racial Justice Institute Fellow with the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. Since that time, I have tirelessly worked to lead and implement changes to LAW’s culture around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). My activities include, but are not limited to, serving on our DEI committee, co-chairing our retention committee, and facilitating an anti-racist group for my white colleagues.
I have served my colleagues in the legal field by presenting to local, statewide, and national audiences. Topics of my presentations include self-care for lawyers, racial equity in family law, creating a race equity alignment plan, and cultural intelligence and ethics for lawyers.
Outside of work, community service is important to me. I currently serve as Board President for ArtWorks for Milwaukee. In the past, I have volunteered with other organizations such as Pearls for Teen Girls, Street Angels Milwaukee Outreach, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
I attended Marquette University Law School while working full time as a social worker and raising children. I turned 40 the year I graduated law school. While I am not “young” in years, I am a “young-ish” lawyer. The first in my family to finish college, I have relied on colleagues to acculturate me to a profession that can seem intimidating. The State Bar’s resources - from mentoring programs, to continuing legal education, to programs that help the public understand the law and access justice - are invaluable to attorneys like me. I welcome the opportunity to serve the Board of Governors, offering the voice of an older younger attorney who followed a nontraditional path, who frequently wonders where I fit in.
If selected, I will use my professionalism, ambition, commitment to social justice, and board experience to serve you. Thank you for your consideration.
James E. Goldschmidt of Milwaukee. Harvard Law School, J.D., 2012. Partner, Quarles & Brady, LLP, Milwaukee. Member American Bar Association, State Bar of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Bar Association, Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association. Immediate Past Chairperson, Appellate Practice Section. Member, Board of Governors, Seventh Circuit Bar Association. Board member: Center for Urban Teaching, Wisconsin Lutheran High School. Adjunct Professor of Law (Appellate Writing & Advocacy), Marquette University Law School.
James E. Goldschmidt Campaign Statement
After several years as an officer of the State Bar Appellate Practice Section, I would appreciate the opportunity to continue serving the State Bar as a way to give back to the legal community of Wisconsin. As an appellate and energy regulatory attorney, my substantive interests lie in the areas of appellate procedure and state energy policy. As a recruiting partner in a large law firm, I focus daily on a core issue affecting Wisconsin’s legal profession: how to attract diverse and talented lawyers to Wisconsin and – the longer-term challenge – foster attorney retention. I believe a culture of mentoring and real-time feedback is essential to both efforts. In addition, with national confidence in the judiciary at an all-time low, it is critical that the Bar do all it can to enhance public respect and support for Wisconsin’s independent judges. If elected, I would use my time on the Board of Governors to help bring focus to these issues at a statewide level.
Jennifer L. Johnson of Milwaukee. Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, J.D., 2014. Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. (LAW). Board Member: Board of Governors; Diversity Inclusion Oversight Committee (Education & Communications Subcommittee Chair). Member State Bar’s Communications Committee (Editorial Board for Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine).
Jennifer L. Johnson Campaign Statement
The State Bar has adamantly expressed its dedication to diversity and inclusion in its policies, procedures and programming. By serving as a Governor, I’ve had the opportunity to speak up –whether at a full BOG meeting, a policy subcommittee meeting or a DIOC meeting – as a,
still, underrepresented voice.
I am the Director of Diversity & Inclusion at my firm and in that role I use my experience and skills to continue to shape the culture of the firm to one that is wholly inclusive and promotes a sense of belonging. I hope to have the opportunity to continue representing District 2, where I can do the same.
Russell J. Karnes of Milwaukee. Marquette University, J.D., 2010. Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP, Milwaukee (Partner). Member State Bar of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association. Volunteer Wisconsin State Bar Fee Arbitrator. Member of Milwaukee Bar Association’s Golf Committee. Volunteer for Milwaukee Justice Center Mobile Legal Clinic and Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic. Graduate of State Bar of Wisconsin’s G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy. Member of Advisory Council and Real Estate Committee: Meta House of Milwaukee. Recognized as Super Lawyer and Best Lawyer.
Russell J. Karnes Campaign Statement
I am excited to announce my candidacy for the Wisconsin State Bar Board of Governors serving District 2 – Milwaukee. As a Partner at the Milwaukee law firm Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP, practicing civil litigation, real estate, and business law, I understand the challenges and opportunities facing lawyers today. I am committed to supporting the State Bar’s efforts at promoting lawyer well-being and bridging the gap between access to justice. The State Bar must also work to maintain the high standards for ethics, justice, and integrity that we set for ourselves as Wisconsin lawyers.
As a Milwaukee native and resident, I understand the vital role the Bar serves in providing legal services to our community. And I will work hard to promote and expand access to the legal system to all members of our State. Through my work as a volunteer, I have seen firsthand the inequities that continue to exist in access to our legal system. These inequities crossover into every area of law and the State Bar has an obligation to work tirelessly to eliminate them.
I understand the challenges that lawyers face in balancing our professional responsibilities with personal well-being, and family obligations. While access to technology and remote work continues to enhance our legal profession, we cannot ignore the increased prevalence of burn out and other mental health issues that lawyers face today. I plan to work to expand resources for lawyer well-being services at the State Bar.
If elected to the State Bar Board of Governors I promise to work together with my colleagues and collaborate to address these issues facing our profession.
Thank you for your consideration.
Thomas J. Pienkos of Milwaukee. The University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 1999. Partner, Amundsen Davis LLC., Milwaukee, and Member of IP, Data Privacy & Security, and Cryptocurrency, Blockchain and Fin Tech Groups. Member, State Bar of Wisconsin. Registered as a Patent Attorney before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Past Member, IP Section Board of the State Bar and Planning Committee Annual Door County IP Academy. Past President, Wisconsin IP Law Association; Past Member and Co-Chair of the Licensing Executive Society International, Wisconsin Chapter. Selected to the
Best Lawyers inAmerica in Patent Law: 2020-23. Current member, State Bar Board of Governors, Intellectual Property Owners Association®, with active participation on its Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Husband to Lisa and father of 3 daughters, Anna (16), Nora (13), and Mary (4).
Thomas J. Pienkos Campaign Statement
I write to express my strong interest in continuing to serve as a member of the Wisconsin State Bar Board of Governors. In addition to my professional experience, I believe that my personal and professional experiences have added and will continue to add a unique perspective. I am a husband and parent of three daughters (ages 16, 12, and 3), one of whom has significant special needs. My wife Lisa and I aim to create an atmosphere where our daughters are encouraged to achieve their fullest potential, taking into account their respective talents and interests, and appreciating the unique and diverse backgrounds, qualities, and needs of others. If reelected, I will continue to listen to and work constructively and respectfully with others on the Board of Governors and others, especially those who are or have been disadvantaged, including those who have a disability. It would be an honor and a privilege to continue serving on the Board of Governors. Thank you.
Mary L. Schanning of Milwaukee. Atty. Schanning works for Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., the non-profit organization that produces Summerfest, as their Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel. Prior to that she worked for the City of Milwaukee as a Deputy City Attorney focusing on real estate development. She received her J.D. in 1997 from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Atty. Schanning served on the State Bar’s Government Lawyers Division (GLD) Board from 2009 to 2019 serving as its President, Treasurer and a member of its CLE, Nominating and Career Paths Committees. She previously served on the State Bar’s Board of Governors and its Executive Committee in 2017-18 as the representative of the GLD and currently serves on the Board of Governors as a District 2 representative, having been elected in 2021. She now seeks reelection.
Mary L. Schanning Campaign Statement
After 10 years of service on the Government Lawyer’s Division Board I found myself wanting to continue my service to the Bar and its members which is why I ran for election in 2021 to represent the attorneys of Milwaukee County on the Board of Governors. During my time on the Board of Governors so far, I have become very interested in the State Bar’s efforts to increase diversity and realize that there is much work yet to be done in that endeavor. If elected, increasing diversity and inclusion in State Bar leadership positions is a high priority for me as is encouraging young people of color to pursue legal careers. Other matters of importance to me include: continuing and bolstering the Lawyer Assistance Program (WisLAP) and other work-life balance and mental health support options for lawyers, supporting and encouraging continuation of remote law practice options post-pandemic, searching for ways the State Bar can assist new lawyers facing large student loans and a difficult job market, educating lawyers on the benefits available to them through the State Bar, looking at cost saving measures to avoid increases in State Bar membership dues, and looking at ways the State Bar can support solo practitioners, small law firms and government lawyers so that the practice of law can be a financially viable, long-term career choice.
I would like to continue to serve and represent the lawyers of Milwaukee County and I would certainly appreciate your vote. Thank you.
Clyde Tinnen of Milwaukee. Columbia Law School, J.D., 2006, University of Connecticut, MBA, 2001, and College of William & Mary, BA, 1993. Clyde is a corporate partner in the Milwaukee office of Foley & Lardner LLP. Member American Bar Association and State Bar of Wisconsin. Member of standing committees on Business Law and Diversity and Inclusion Oversight Committee. Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board. Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Greater Milwaukee Urban League. Member of the Board of Directors of Wellpoint Care Network. Member of the inaugural class of the G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin. 2015 fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. His practice concentrates on representing fund sponsors in connection with the formation and operation of private investment funds, securities law reporting and compliance (e.g., Securities Act, Exchange Act, Investment Company Act and Investment Advisers Act); public corporations in Exchange Act reporting and public and private corporations in negotiating and structuring complex business transactions, including domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, secured and unsecured finance arrangements, public offerings and private placements; and general corporate counseling. Before joining Foley & Lardner LLP, Clyde was a partner at two other large international law firms. Prior to working as a lawyer, Clyde was a senior financial analyst for two public corporations.
District 3
Jessica E. Slavin of Fond du Lac. University of Minnesota, J.D., 1998, admitted to State Bar of Wisconsin 1999. Dempsey Law Firm, L.L.P., Fond du Lac. Member State Bar of Wisconsin, Fond du Lac County Bar Association. Member Fond du Lac County Traffic Safety Commission. Board member, Wisconsin Association for Justice, District 2.
District 5
Shari Lepage Locante of West Salem. Hamline University, J.D., 1985. Arndt, Buswell & Thorn, S.C., Sparta. Member State Bar of Wisconsin, Monroe County Bar Association, Ho-Chunk Nation Bar. Former Board Member: Western Wisconsin Legal Services. Wisconsin Law Foundation Fellow.
District 6
Latrice M. Knighton of Germantown. U.W. Law School, J.D. 2006. Pivotal Divorce, LLC, Wauwatosa. Member State Bar of Wisconsin and Waukesha County Bar Association.
District 7
Stephen W. Sawyer of Stevens Point. University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D. (cum laude) 1996. Member of Sawyer Law LLC, Stevens Point. Member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Wisconsin (2021-present), Portage County Bar Association (former President). Board member: Portage County Legal Aid Society, Inc.
District 9
Stacy A. Alexejun of Madison. Marquette University, J.D. 2009. Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison. Member of American Bar Association, State Bar of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Law Foundation, Fellow. 2020 “40 Under 40” Honoree, In Business magazine. 2019 Outstanding Mentor, Young Lawyers Division. G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy, Inaugural Class. Special Olympics Wisconsin Board of Directors, Member of Executive Committee, Chair of Governance Committee.
Stacy A. Alexejun Campaign Statement
As a participant of the inaugural class of the G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy, I was challenged to become a leader in our Bar. I walked away from the academy with the goal of becoming a champion of young lawyers and to “leave the ladder down.” I am passionate about mentorship and promoting and empowering women and mothers in all walks of our practice. I am running for the Board of Governors to lead by example, and I respectfully ask for your support.
Alison E. Helland of Madison. Alison is the Director of Donor and Advisor Engagement at the Madison Community Foundation. Prior to joining the Madison Community Foundation, she was a Partner at Boardman Clark in Madison, focusing her practice on tax law, business law, and estate planning. She received her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2005, and her LLM in Taxation from Northwestern University School of Law in 2006. Alison is an active member of both the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Wisconsin, and has organized and presented at multiple CLE programs for both organizations. She is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin Taxation Law and Business Law Sections, a Fellow of the Wisconsin Law Foundation, and a Fellow of the American Bar Association. She previously served as a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin Taxation Section Board, and chaired the Taxation Law Section from July 2014 to June 2016. In addition to her service to the State Bar of Wisconsin, she currently serves on the board of Downtown Madison, Inc.
Jessica J. Shrestha of Madison. Jessica is an attorney at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., in Madison. She graduated from U.W. Law School in 2009 and concentrates her practice on real property and energy matters. Jessica is the current Board Chair of the RPPT Section and has been a director since 2016. She also serves on the Wisconsin Remote Notary Council. Jessica frequently presents and writes on real property matters including boundaries and easements.
Jessica J. Shrestha Campaign Statement
I have been actively involved with the State Bar since graduating from law school in 2009. This has included presenting at numerous CLEs, writing for the Wisconsin Lawyer, Inside Track and other State Bar publications, participation in lobbying efforts through the RPPT Section, RPPT Section Board membership and leadership and most recently participation in the Section Leaders Council. I am presently the chair of the RPPT Section, with my term ending in May.
I would like to continue my State Bar involvement and leadership as a District 9 representative on the Board of Governors. As a representative, I am interested in facilitating and promoting member engagement and inclusion and diversity at all levels of the Bar. I would also like to be more involved in promoting law student participation and supporting first-generation lawyers.
Annabelle K. Vang of Madison, Marquette University, J.D. 2014. Kowalski, Wilson, & Vang LLC. Member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Family Law Division and Young Lawyer Division. Member of the Sauk County Bar Association and Dane County Bar Association- Courthouse Committee. Fellow of the Wisconsin Law Foundation. 2016 Graduate of the G. Lane Ware Leadership Development Academy. Recipient of the 2016 Belle Case La Follette Award. Board member: The Hmong Institute.
District 11
Courtney L. Graff of Medford. Schmiege, Graff and Koch Law Firm, Ltd., Medford. Member State Bar of Wisconsin since 2012; Treasurer/Secretary Price-Taylor County Bar Association. Board Member: Aspirus Medford Hospital, Asprius Extended Services, Fulcrum Community Foundation.
Courtney L. Graff Campaign Statement
Serving on the Board of Governors will hopefully be a nexus to easing the issue of too few lawyers in District 11. It is difficult to attract and retain talent to work and live in our northern counties, and it is my hope that serving on the BOG would help partner the resources our State Bar has available to serve our District.
District 13
Tatiana Tamae Soares Shirasaki of Mayville. U.W. Law School, L.L.M. 2014. Assistant Corporation Counsel, Dodge County. She has worked as an Assistant Public Defender and Assistant District Attorney in the past. She is Brazilian-Japanese and is a board member of WAABA – Wisconsin Asian American Bar Association. Tatiana serves as WAABA Liaison Member of the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors, BOG Policy Committee member, WisLAP Committee member, LIFT Wisconsin Advisory Committee member, Rotary District 6250 Grants Subcommittee member, Mayville School Board member and as co-vice president of The Economic Justice Institute Inc. at the University of Wisconsin Law School. She volunteers as instructor at U.W. Lawyering Skills and Mock Trial. She is a Rotarian, a wife, mother and a professional photographer. Her native language is Portuguese. Tatiana is licensed to practice law in Wisconsin and in Brazil.
District 15
Elizabeth Stinebaugh of Racine. University of the District of Columbia, J.D., 2013. Legal Action of Wisconsin, Racine. Member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and Racine Bar Association. Board member of the Public Interest Law Section, State Bar of Wisconsin, 2016-present (Immediate Past Chair 2022-present). Member of the Section Leader’s Council, 2021-22 and Fee Arbitration District 1, 2022-present. State Bar of Wisconsin high school mock trial coordinator, Racine/Kenosha division, 2018 and 2019.
Elizabeth Stinebaugh campaign statement
As a board member of the Public Interest Law Section (PILS), I have enjoyed representing public interest attorneys statewide for the past six years. In this capacity, I have also experienced the full scope of the Board of Governors’ authority and the impact it can have on the direction of law and policy in the State.
In addition, I have proudly represented low-income Wisconsinites in Racine for the past seven years. During this time, I have had the chance to interact with many attorneys in District 15. I feel confident that I have the knowledge and understanding of the issues that impact both our attorneys and our clients and I am excited for the opportunity to represent them both on the Board of Governors.
